Fifteen on trial accused of joining Al Qaeda-linked militant groups

The Federal Supreme Court is told that five of the accused linked to Islamist extremist fighters in Syria attempted to build a bomb in the UAE, which prosecutors say leaked toxic chemical fumes that affected nearby residents.

ABU DHABI // Five men linked to Islamist extremists in Syria tried to build a bomb in the UAE, the state security division of the Federal Supreme Court was told on Monday.

Prosecutors say the explosive device leaked toxic chemical fumes that affected nearby residents.

The five are among 15 men who went on trial accused of joining Jabhat Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham, subsidiaries of Al Qaeda fighting the Assad regime in Syria.

Of the 15 accused, nine are Emiratis in their twenties and thirties, four are Comoros Island citizens in their twenties and two are Syrians aged 36 and 39. Four of the Emiratis are being tried in their absence. Many of the gang are related, the court was told.

Prosecutors say the gang travelled to Syria to make contact with groups that they knew to be terrorist organisations. They recruited others in the UAE to go with them and take part in activities relating to terrorism, the court was told.

They collected money, devices and equipment that went to Syria to assist in terrorist attacks, and the money was used to fund terror attacks on civilians in Syria, the court was told.

One of the men, an Emirati aged 26, is accused of owning a functioning machinegun without a licence. He told the court the firing mechanism had been deactivated.

One of the Syrians is also accused of running a Facebook page to disseminate propaganda about Jabhat Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham.

The five men accused of making the bomb, four Emiratis and one from the Comoros Islands, face further charges of causing harm to residents, animals and plants with the chemical leak.

All 11 accused in court deny the charges. A defence lawyer, Jassim Al Naqbi, asked for four witnesses to be called to give evidence.

Judge Mohammed Al Jarah Al Tenaiji agreed, and adjourned the trial to September 23.